Bed Bug Facts
Egg. The 1st sign of trouble.
Small, white and hard to see
At just over 1/32nd of an inch, bed bug eggs are very hard to spot. The adult female can lay up to seven eggs per week, and while the eggs are laid individually, they are often found in small groups glued to a rough surface. The life cycle from egg to egg can be 1.5 to 2 months.
Stage 1 Immature Bed Bug
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Stage 1 Immature Bed Bug
1.5 mm long, 1/16 inch
The newly hatched bed bug is white and hard to see until it has its first meal. After its first meal, the stage 1 immature sheds its skin or molts.
Stage 2 Immature Bed Bug
Stage 2 Immature Bed Bug
2mm long, just over 1/16 inch
The second stage of the bed bug is slightly larger than the first. After a meal, the bed bug molts and moves into stage 3. The shed skin of a newly molted bed bug is light brown and striped in appearance.
Stage 3 Immature Bed Bug
Stage 3 Immature Bed Bug
Sub: 2.5 mm long, 3/32 inch
The bed bug is halfway through its life cycle from egg to adult. While a bed bug feeds every three to seven days, it is important to note that a bed bug can survive for as long as six months without a meal.
Stage 4 Immature Bed Bug
Stage 4 Immature Bed Bug
3 mm long, 1/8 inch
In stage 4, the bed bug has doubled in size from when it first hatched; it is still small and hard to detect.
Stage 5 Immature Bed Bug
Stage 5 Immature Bed Bug
4.5 mm, 3/16 inch
By this time, the bed bug is ready to move on to adulthood.
Adult
Adult
5.5 mm long, ¼ inch. About the size of an apple seed
Adult bed bugs are flat until after they have fed. They attempt to feed every three to seven days, but can live without a meal for up to six months. So abandoning your home in an attempt to starve them is not a reasonable method to get rid of your infestation.
Identifying Bed Bugs
Your problem begins with the eggs and only grows from there. After hatching, the bed bug grows through five stages. In each of these stages, the bed bug must have a meal to move onto the next stage of growth. After this meal, the bed bug sheds its skin and grows into the next larger size or instar.
Other than their size, bed bugs appear the same through all five immature stages. Their bodies are clear and milky in color when unfed and appear bright red after feeding. Adults are dark brown and have a broad, flat, oval shape. Their dark color comes from the blood they eat.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/behavior_1.jpgBed bug adults, especially mated females, are nine times more likely to move away from their feeding area compared to immature bed bugs.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/behavior_2.jpgBed bugs are attracted to CO2, heat and pheromones, in that order.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/behavior_3.jpgIn a test, it was shown that 30 percent of the bed bugs traveled along wires and between walls.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/behavior_4.jpgBed bugs attempt to feed every 3-7 days.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/behavior_5.jpgBed bugs tend to harbor together due to the pheromones they give off.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/behavior_6.jpgBed bugs will harbor almost anywhere including pages of books.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/behavior_7.jpgAfter a bed bug has fed, it will "poop" and leave behind dark stains.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/behavior_8.jpgBed bug stains on a mattress that can be mistaken for mold.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/behavior_9.jpgBed bugs harbor in the seams of the mattress.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/behavior_10.jpgBed bugs harbor behind base boards.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/behavior_11.jpgSome bed bugs have found a cozy hole from a screw in a piece of furniture to hide in.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/behavior_12.jpgBed bugs size in comparison to a dime.
Bad Behavior
Bed bugs only feed on blood, and while they prefer humans they may also feed on bats, birds, cats and dogs if they have to. Unlike other insects, bed bugs cannot fly or jump. They can only crawl, and prefer to stay within five feet of their food source. Bed bugs disturb easily, and will scatter at the slightest sign of danger, especially when feeding. After feeding, a bed bug tends to go back into hiding to digest its meal.
Not Afraid of the Dark
Bed bugs can live anywhere in your home, but they prefer rough surfaces such as wood and fabric. Furniture is their favorite dwelling, especially mattresses, box springs and bed frames. Hence, the name bed bugs.
They like to hide in dark, tight places and are extremely patient. They can live for months waiting on a meal. However, they will come out in the light if they are hungry enough.
Click on the images to the right to learn more.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/bites_1.jpgDuring the night, a bed bug can complete feeding in 3-12 minutes.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/bites_2.jpgAfter feeding, the bed bug returns to hide and digest the blood over several days.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/bites_3.jpgMany people develop mosquito bite-looking red-raised areas. These areas itch for some people.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/bites_4.jpgMany people develop a red spot or welt with intense itching, due to an allergic response to the saliva.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/bites_5.jpgSome people experience more aggressive reactions with larger swollen areas that are more typical of allergic responses.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/bites_6.jpgEven though bed bugs draw blood when they bite, they do NOT transmit diseases.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/bites_7.jpgBed bugs can eat up to three times their body weight.
/smg/templateFramework/images/microSites/HDM/images/photos/bites_8.jpgNymphs are a clear milky color before feeding and bright red after feeding.
Bed Bugs Bite. Literally.
When bed bugs bite, they inject saliva into your skin, then take a few drops of blood. It is important to know that they have NOT been found to transmit diseases. The bite is usually painless and typically will not wake you up. Bed bugs are very sensitive. Flinch or roll over, and the bed bug will break its bite and flee; only to come back later to try again. This can result in several bite marks lined up in a row.
Everyone reacts differently to bed bug bites. Some people react immediately, some can take 7 to 10 days to react, and some - up to 30 percent - will show no skin reaction at all. Delayed reactions can make it difficult to pinpoint where you may have been when you were bitten. The worst can result when you have no reaction because you may have an infestation and not know it until it's out of control because you didn't even know you were getting bit.
Click on the images to the right to learn more.
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